Hopper doorframe



Oct. 20, 1936. w. E. WINE 2,057,757

HOPPER DOORFRAME Filed May 3, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR :ZLATTORNEW Oct. 20, 1936. w. E. WINE HOPPER DOORFRAME Filed May 3, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR I BY 23m! 0'11 AQATTORNEYS Patented ct. 2c,- 1936 HOPPER DOORFRAME William E. Wine, Toledo, Ohio Application May 3, 1935, Serial No. 19,737

6 Claims. (01. 105-253) My invention relates to railway hopper cars and more particularly to improvements indoor frames now commonly employed on such cars.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide the door frame with a lading discharge opening of increased size without enlarging the outside dimensions of the frame.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the upper portion of the frame as to increase the capacity of the hopper with which the frame is associated and to also enable the pins by which the door is hingedly connected to the frame to be so disposed as to decrease the diiference in vertical height of the lower edge of the door above the tracks when the door is closed and when the door is open, to the end that the hoppers may extend a greater distance below the under frame of the car than has heretofore been possible.

The features of the invention residing in advantageous forms, combinations and relations of parts will hereinafter appear and be specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view of substantially one-half of the lower portion of a railway hopper car, the door frame and door being shown in elevation.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the portion of the car illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure l. 5

Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of the lower portion of the door frame.

Figure 6 is an enlarged front view of the frame adjacent one of the lower corners thereof.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are detail sectional views taken on lines 1-1, 88 and 9-9, respectively, of Figure 5.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on line Ill-l0 of Figure 6. I Referring more particularly to the drawings, 45 l indicates the center sill, the particular sill illustrated being of the integral type and including a top wall 2, and a side wall 3 which terminates at itslower edge in an outwardly projecting flange l. The side sill of the car chosen for purposes of illustrating the invention is of conventional angle shape having a vertical flange 5 and an inwardly projecting horizontal flange 6.

Depending downwardly between theside and center sills is a hopper. formed by inner and outer side sheets 1 and ,8, respectively, and a downwardly inclined slope sheet 9. The main portion of the inner side sheet is preferably disposed in a substantially vertical plane, but adjacent its upper edge it inclines, as at in, toward the center sill and terminates in a substantially vertical flange ll secured to the adjacent side wall 3 of the latter. The outer side sheet of the hopper inclines downwardly and inwardly and adjacent its upper edge it extends outwardly at a relatively sharp angle over the horizontal flange of the side sill for attachment to the vertical flange 5 of the latter. As is customary, the lower edges of the side sheets are formed with inturned flanges l2 for attachment to adjacent portions of the slope sheet 9.

Extending downwardly toward the hopper at the forward end thereof is a transversely extending floor sheet l3. At its outer edge, the floor sheet is connected to the outer side sheet 8 of the hopper by a flange l4 which is formed integrally with the latter and at its inner edge the floor sheet is connected to a splice plate l5 which joins it to the corresponding floor sheet (not shown) on the opposite side of the center sill.

Secured to the forward end of the hopper is a door frame which is preferably formed as an integral casting. The frame is of substantially trapezoidal shape and it is formed with rearwardly extending side walls [6 and i1, respectively, secured to the inner and outer side sheets of the hopper and with a rearwardly extending bottom wall [8 secured to the slope sheet 9. Each of these walls is formed so as to be disposed in planes corresponding to the planes of the respective sheets of the hopper to which they are attached. The frame is also provided with a top wall I!) which extends rearwardly from the forward upper edges of the side walls It and I"! in the same general direction as the bottom wall 18 and it serves to rigidly and effectively tie the side walls together. At its inner edge, the platelike top wall I9 is provided with an upwardly projecting flange 20 which is rigidly secured to the under side of the floor sheet [3.

The frame is provided with a substantially rectangular lading discharge opening having vertical side edges which are spaced a greater distance apart than the horizontal distance between the lower edges of the side walls I6 and ll of the frame. Between the'inclined outer side wall I! and the adjacent side edge of the lading discharge opening, the frame is formed with a substantially triangular downwardly tapering front plate 2|, the inner edge of which defines the side of the opening and the upper edge of the opening is defined by a plate-like portion 22' which extends downwardly from the forward edge of the top wall IS in the same plane as the triangular plate portion 2|. The inner side and bottom edges of the opening preferably coincide with and are inv effect formed bythe inner and bottom Walls l6 and I8, respectively.

Bounding the marginal edges of the opening are outwardly extending flanges 23 adapted to cooperate with the hingedly mounted door 24 .to seal the opening against the escape of lading. The flange 23 extending along the side edge of the opening adjacent the inclined outer wall I! of the frame is disposed in a plane intersecting the plane of the latter at a point, designated 25,

above the bottom edge of the opening and continues downwardly in a vertical direction outside of the plane of the wall H where it joins the sealing flange at the bottom edge of the opening. The portion of the sealing flange disposed outwardly of the outer side wall H is connected to the latter by a plate portion 26 which is preferably disposed in the plane of the plate portion 2| which integrally connects the inclined side Wall and portions of the sealing flange above the point of intersection 25. To rigidify the side of the frame where the inclined wall i1 and the adjacent sealing flange intersect, it is formed with a laterally projecting flange 21 disposed in the plane of plate portions 2| and 26 and extending for some little distance above and below the point of intersection.

It will be perceived that, while this construc- I tion enables the frame to be provided with a lading discharge opening of increased width, the strength of the frame adjacent the lower outer corner is not impaired, but, on the contrary, is made substantially stronger and its strength may be further increased by a flange 28 which is customarily formed along the inneredge of the bottom wall 3 of the frame. This flange preferably continues upwardly along the outer side of the frame for a short distance, as indicated at 29, and on the inner side of the frame it preferably extends upwardly for a considerable distance, as indicated at 30, terminating in a, horizontal flange 3| for connection to the outwardly projecting flange 4 of the center sill. In addition to being connected to the center sill at this point, the frame may also be secured directly to the side wall isigrtion with a substantially vertical end flange While the'sealing flange extending along the upper edge of the opening is spaced downwardly from the top wall I 9 to provide the front plate portion 22 which serves to render the portion of the frame above the opening. extremely rigid, if it is desired to increase the vertical height of the opening, the plate portion may be decreased in width so that the sealing flange forms, .in effect, a prolongation of'the topwall IS in much the same way the sealing flanges along the inner side and bottom of the frame constitute prolongations of the, side and bottom walls. I,

Disposed within the angle formed by the top wall I9 of the frame and the upwardly extending flange 20 and preferably formed integrally with each of these parts are a plurality of pairs of hinge lugs 32 havingaligned apertures for receiving hingev pins 33 which hingedly connect the door to the frame by passing through openings formed in the upper ends of arms or straps 34 secured to the door. The axes ofthe openings 3 thereof by providing its upper.

. per comprising side sheets for receiving thehinge pins are spaced inwardly from the plane of the closed door, being preferably disposed closely adjacent the flange 20 secured to the floor sheet. By being able to locate the axes of the hinge pins a substantial distance inwardly from the plane of the closed door, it will be perceived that, when the door is in open position, its lower edge will not extend below the lowermost edge of the hopper as great a distance as would be the case if the axes of the hinge pins were disposed nearer the plane of the closed door or were located outwardly thereof. This advantageous location of the hinge pins is made possible by forming the portion of the frame above the lading discharge opening with a top wall, such as wall l9, which defines or forms a, part of the hopper. Not only does the top wall enable the advantageous location'of the hinge pins, but it also serves, since it forms a part of the hopper, to increase the capacity thereof.

Any suitable or convenient mechanism may be employed for maintaining the door in closed position, one of such mechanisms being of the hook type and including an arm 36 secured to the door and projecting beyond the outer side edge thereof for cooperating with a hook 31 pivotally mounted on the outer side wall of the frame. A mechanism of this type is customarily provided with a cam 38 for locking the hook in door supporting engagement with the arm 36.

What I claim is:

1. In a. railway car, the combination with a hopper comprising side sheets and a slope sheet,-

of a floor sheet extending transversely of the car and inclined downwardly toward the hopper, a door frame having a lading discharge opening and provided with portions secured to the hopper sheets, and a door for closing the opening, the portion of the frame above the opening including a flange secured to said floor sheet, a plate portion extending outwardly from the lower edge of said flange and forming a portion of the hopper, and hinge lugs disposed in the angle formed by said flange and plate portion, said hinge lugs having apertures for receiving pins adapted to hingedly connect the door to the frame and the axes of said apertures being disposed inwardly of the plane ,of the closed door.

2. In a railway carfthe combination with a hopper comprising side sheets and a slope sheet, of a floor sheet extending transversely of the car and inclined downwardly toward the hopper, a

door frame having a lading discharge opening and provided with portions secured to said hopper sheets, and a door for closing the opening, the portion of the frame above the opening including a flange secured to said floor sheet, a plate portion extending outwardly from the flange adjacent the loweredge thereof, the outer edge of said plate portion being provided with a downwardly extending portion substantially parallel with the plane of the closed door, and hinge lugs disposed in the angle formed by said flange and plate portion, said hinge lugs having apertures adapted to receive pins for hingedly connectingv the door to the frame and the axes of said apertures being disposed inwardly of the plane of said downwardly extending portion.

3. In a railway car, the combination of a hopand a slope sheet, one

' of said side sheets being inclined downwardly and inwardly, of a. door frame having walls secured to the hopper sheets and the wall thereof secured to said inclined side sheet being disposed in a plane substantially parallel therewith, said frame having a substantially rectangular'lading discharge opening, sealing flanges extending along the side and bottom marginal edges of the opening, the sealing flange at the bottom of the opening constituting a prolongation of the wall of the frame secured to the slope sheet and the sealing flange at the side of the opening adjacent said inclined side wall being disposed in a plane intersecting the plane of said side wall at a point spaced above the sealing flange at the bottom of the opening.

4. In a railway car, thecombination of a hopper comprising side sheets and a slope sheet, one of said side sheets being inclined downwardly and inwardly, of a door frame having walls secured to the hopper sheets and the wall thereof secured to said inclined side sheet being disposed in a plane substantially parallel therewith, said frame also having a substantially rectangular lading discharge opening, sealing flanges extending along the side and bottom marginal edges of the opening, the sealing flange at the bottom of the opening constituting a prolongation of the wall of the frame secured to the slope sheet and the sealing flange at the side of the opening adjacent said inclined wall of the frame being disposed in a plane intersecting the plane of the latter at a point above the sealing flange at the bottom of the opening, and a flange projecting laterally of said inclined wall connecting portions of the sealing flange below the point of intersection with portions of said wall above the intersection.

,5. In a railway car, the combination of a hopper comprising side sheets and a slope sheet, one of said side sheets being inclined downwardly and inwardly, of a door frame having walls secured to the hopper sheets and the wall thereof secured to said inclined side sheet being disposed in a plane substantially parallel therewith, said frame also having a substantially rectangular lading discharge opening, sealing flanges extending along the side and bottom marginal edges of the opening, the sealing flange at the bottom of the opening constituting a prolongation of the wall of the frame secured to the slope sheet and the sealing flange at the side of the opening adjacent said inclined wall of the frame being disposed in a plane intersecting the plane of the latter at a point above the sealing flange at the bottom of the opening, and plate portions above and below said point of intersection integrally connecting adjacent portions of said inclined wall and the sealing flange adjacent thereto, the plate portion above the point of intersection being disposed outwardly of said sealing flange and the plate portion below the point of intersection being disposed inwardly of the sealing flange.

6. In arailway car, the combination of a hopper comprising side sheets and a slope sheet, one of said side sheets being inclined downwardly and inwardly, of a door frame having walls secured to the hopper sheets and the wall thereof secured to said inclined side sheet being disposed inaplane substantially parallel therewith, said frame having a substantially rectangular lading discharge opening, sealing flanges bounding the sides and bottom of the opening, the sealing flange at the bottom of the opening constituting a prolongation of the wall secured to the slope sheet and the sealing flange at the side of the opening adjacent said inclined wall of the frame being disposed in a plane intersecting the plane of the latter at apoint above the sealing flange at the bottom of the opening, plate portions integrally connecting adjacent portions of said inclined side wall and the last named sealing flange, and a flange disposed in the plane of said plate portions projecting laterally from the frame adjacent said point of intersection.

WILLIAM E. WINE. 

